It is important to recognise that abuse takes many forms and involves a wide range of power dynamics. A number of years ago, we were emphasising that it is not on;ly men who abuse, but women can also be perpetrators of abuse. Over more recent years there has been an increasing awareness that it is not only adults who abuse children but also that children abuse other children, adults abuse other adults and children sometimes abuse adults. There is always a power imbalance when abuse occurs, however that may be related to informal power rather than to formal authority structures.

Peer abuse occurs when a child or young person abuses another child or young person. Both perpetrator and victim and under 18, however, there may be a discrepancy in age that contributes to the power imbalance. dynamic